Mormon History, Feb 1, 1831

/Mormon History Chronology/-- Feb 1, 1831 It appears quite certain that the prophet himself never made any serious pretensions to religion until his late pretended revelation. "Gold Bible, No. 3," Palmyra Reflector, Feb. 1, 1831. (1)

Joseph and Emma arrive in Kirtland, stay at the home of Newel K. Whitney for several weeks. (1)

-- about Feb 1, 1831 [Joseph Smith] Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith and his wife, Emma Smith, arrived in Kirtland from New York and were kindly received into the house of Brother Newel K. Whitney. (3)

-- Feb 4, 1831 [Financial] By revelation to Joseph Smith (Doctrine and Covenants 41:9), Edward Partridge is appointed "bishop unto the church," the first Latter-day Saint to hold that office. Bishops, most importantly the Presiding Bishop, eventually become key figures in the stewardship of the church's financial and material assets. (Newel K. Whitney, who had already been serving as a bishop in the church, is appointed to succeed Partridge in 1844, and becomes the first bishop to be designated Presiding Bishop in 1847.) (4)

[Joseph Smith] Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith received Doctrine & Covenants 41, a revelation calling Edward Partridge to be the first bishop of the Church. (3)

[Joseph Smith] Edward Partridge is ordained to the office of bishop without high priest ordination. Although he is traditionally regarded as presiding bishop over the entire church, LDS president John Taylor and church historian Orson Pratt explained that Partridge was the "General Bishop" over Missouri, while Newel K. Whitney (ordained in December 1831) was General Bishop over Ohio. (9)